Game apparatus



March 29, 1938. J, R MCFARLIN 2,112,444

GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1957 v INVENTOR. J #115 R. msARzi/z /5 r U Q BY M lji ATTORNEYS- Patented Mar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT} OFFICE 1 Claim.

The invention relates to a game of skill, as herein illustrated and consists of spinning an an nular disc member eccentrically around a shaft adjacent the end thereof. The shaft is placed vertically and eccentrically in the disc, the disc being placed in a horizontal plane. The shaft is then given a rotating motion, which in turn is translated to the disc, and in turn imparts to the disc a spinning'motion around the shaft. 7

The rotation of the disc eccentrically to the shaft creates a pressure against the shaft and produces so to speak a connection between the disc and the shaft by means thereof. When the shaft is rotated at a proper and maintained speed, it has been found that the disc may be lifted from the horizontal plane and carried forward and upward so that the disc may be kept spinning over a players head and at an arms length.

The excentered disc is held solely by the pressure produced by its spinning around the shaft while the shaft is kept in proper rotary motion.

The feature of the invention lies in the fact that it offers besides real entertainment a real opportunity for use of good judgment and coordination of movement of the hand, wrist and arm to pick the disc up off the plane against the force of gravity, and keep it spinning around the shaft and carry it above the head.

The annexed drawing and. the following description setforth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of the various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan view, showing the relation of the shaft to the inner inclined edge of the annular disc.

Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. 1, showing the rela tion of the inclined edge to the end of the shaft. It will be noted that the inclined inner edge of the annular disc coincides with the frusto-conioal portion formed on the end of the shaft.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, showing the relation of the shaft to the inner inclined edge of the annular disc. In Fig. 3 the disc is just the reverse to that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section of Fig. 3 showing the relation of the inclined edge to the shaft. It will be noted that the inclined edge of the disc leans away from the incline of the frusto-conical end portion of shaft.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the shaft alone showing its end portion.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the shaft.

The annular disc I0, is provided with an inclined inner edge ll, adapted to engage the end of the actuating shaft.

The actuating shaft I2 is provided with an integral 'frusto-conical end portion l3 and a shoulder M.

An examination of the section shown in Fig. 2

will show that when the disc is placed as shown,

and the shaft is placed Within the disc with its longitudinal axis vertical, the incline of the frusto-conical portion of the shaft coincides with the incline of the inner edge of the disc. Now it will be apparent from the relation of the disc to the shaft, that if the player tries to lift the disc while in this position, the tendency of the disc is to slip down on the cone-shaped portion of the shaft thereby increasing the effort to lift it. The 2 incline of the cone-shaped portion of the shaft tends to slip away from the disc when the force of gravity acts on the annular disc.

An examination of the section shown in Fig. 4, will show that when the disc is placed as shown, and the shaft placed within the disc, the incline of the frusto-conical portion of the shaft will not coincide with the inclined inner edge of the annular disc. Now it will be apparent from the relation of the disc to the shaft, that the tendency of the disc to slip away from the shaft is not so pronounced as that shown in Fig. 2.

It has'been found that it is easier to pick the disc up when placed as shownin Fig. 4. The shoulder H! on the shaft is provided tokeep the disc near the end of the shaft while the disc is spinning therearound.

It has also been found that when the disc is in movement around the shaft, the disc may be slightly tilted in a plane to the axis of the shaft by slightly moving the shaft up and down or in or out while rotating the shaft.

In accordance with the provision of the patent statutes, I have described the principles of the operation of my invention, together with apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown and described is only illustrative, and that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A game apparatus of the character described, the combination of a manually rotated shaft having formed at an end thereof a shoulder, and a nonrotatable truncated conical portion, an annulus having an inclined internal periphery, and uninterrupted plane surfaces, and having a thickness substantially equal to the altitude of the truncated conical portion of the shaft, the incline of the internal periphery of the annulus being inclined similar to the truncated conical portion on the shaft, the truncated conical portion being adapted to produce friction on rotation of the shaft when inserted in the annulus for the purpose of rotating the same and whereby the annulus may be lifted against gravity, the shoulder on the shaft being adapted to prevent deviation of the annulus relative to the truncated conical portion of the shaft in its flight of eccentricity therearound.

JULIUS R. MQFARLIN. 

